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I’m sold on emergency phone chargers already, since my battery always runs out at the worst time, so extra incentives weren’t necessary. But…
Even thought it looks crapgadgety, the One Battery Mobile Charger Pen does have a good idea there. Why carry more items than necessary? Most people carry a pen around, so why not replace it with a phone charger that can also write. It looks like a regular pen, only it’s slightly bigger to allow the battery to fit in. It comes with 5 adapters which should be ok for most phones, but of course it’s better to double check before ordering.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $19 on Gagdet4All.com.
Via RedFerret
Unfortunately for people who couldn’t care less about Apple and their products, the iPhone 3G is the most talked about gadget… and has been in the past months. I’m sorry, but the bandwagon is too good not to jump on. And, even though I don’t plan to buy one, I do admit that it’s one beautiful and smart phone. Which anyone would want to keep in one piece. Unless they’re nuts or very rich.
The See Thru Hard Shell Case and Stand does two things: protects the phone and serves as a stand. The protection part is obvious: hard plastic between the fragile touchscreen and shiny back and the elements (keys, pavement a.s.o.). The stand is even cooler: one side of the case simply detaches and reattaches to form the base. Very practical is you want to watch videos.
Nothing out of the ordinary here really, but if you don’t want bells and whistles, this looks like a very good option.
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.95 on SpeckProducts.com.
Via Gizmodo
A camera tripod can help with steady shots, but can’t hold an iPhone. An iPhone stand is useful for watching videos, but other gadgets won’t fit in it. There’s separate products that do one job very well, but the Gorillapod Go-Go aims to offer a solution for all gadgets.
It has 3 ways to attach to gadgets: an universal adapter screw for cameras, a suction cup for everything else (the suction cup has a switch that creates near-vacuum on any flat surface to keep the gadgets in place) and adhesive clips for more permanent attachment (meaning you glue it on and it stays there for a long time). Then there’s the legs: very flexible, can be bent in virtually any position and they stay there, can be twisted around objects, coated in rubber for better grip. This opens a lot of posibilities, be it positioning the camera perfectly for that tricky shot or giving the iPhone the right angle for viewing a video.
However, you need to be careful what you use it for, since larger objects might make it fall over (or might make finding the right position more difficult).
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on ThinkGeek.com
An iPhone is expensive, so if you dished out all that money, you’ll want to keep it in one piece. And you know what happens to phones left on the dashboard at the first break…
But a cell stuck to the windshield is much safer. And, unless you want to use super glue, you’ll need an iPhone Car Mount. It installs in seconds (it’s got a suction cup, so there’s not much “installing”, really) and the phone bracket is on the end of a flexible gooseneck that can be adjusted for a perfect view of the cell. The bracket can also rotate to allow for quick transition to landscape mode… but I hope you won’t be using it to watch videos while you’re driving, right?
Devices like this might be a little distracting, but as long as you pay more attention to the road than to incoming calls, you’re safe.
Oh, and an important note: it’s not compatible with the iPhone 3G.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
We all know Apple products are eye-candy, whether we actually buy them or not. And it’s just natural that owners want to protect them (even I, phone case hater #1, would consider one if I got an iPhone). Choosing the manner of protection (har har) is a matter of taste.
If looks are more important, I would suggest the iTabi. This case fits the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPod classic, and focuses on style. The strap comes in two sizes, small and shoulder length, while the case itself has a front pocket that can carry stuff like money or the headphones, so in theory it could double as a very small bag (if you just run to the store to get a beer, you won’t need to carry everything with you).
The downside: it won’t fit in your pocket so easily, but the iTabi is about style, not convenience.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.98 on Mercury-Soft.com.
Via BoingBoing
Let’s get something straight: a phone hands free is an earbud connected to your cell phone, basically. People usually use it when they’re walking or driving if they want to have their hands free (duh). So why on Earth would you make one that looks like a hairdryer?!
The Hair Dryer Headset (or, to give it the full name, Novelty Hair Dryer Shaped Earphone Headset for Nokia/Sumsung/Sony Ericsson Cell Phones - the typo is from the product page) looks just my old dryer and even has a curly appliance-like cord. At first, given the shape, I figured it’s just an earbud that looks like a dyer; but no, it’s big. 6.22 in x 3.94 in x 2.76 in to be exact. Which makes it anything but a hands free.
The product description say “Taking a bus or subway and talking on cell phone? That’s so 90’s. Talk to a Hair Dryer and catch some attention!”, but… hmm, no thank you. I have this thing against acting like a lunatic…
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7.59 on DealExtreme.com.
Via ubergizmo
If your lace, ribbons, crinolines or petticoats aren’t Gothic Lolita enough for you, you might need extra accesorizing. Like… a phone charm? Perhaps.
The Gothic-Lolita Black Rose Petit Mirror Cell Phone Strap has a very descriptive name and lets me with little to add. It’s a black mirror, yes, it’s got a Victorian-ish rose design, it attaches to a cell phone.
It’s also too small to be actually useful and looks like cheap plastic, that’s why I think it would only look good as an accesory to a full Gothic outfit. Otherwise it would just be tacky.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: ~$4 on Strapya-World.com.
Via ShinyShiny
Cords and cables are the bane of my existence. I have a big box where I keep all my chargers, USB cables for various gadgets, plus the random seldom-used electronics. And then there’s the ones I use everyday: phone charger on my nightstand or my desk, e-book reader charger on desk, a battery charger lying on the floor somewhere or thrown inside a drawer for “safe keeping”… Let’s just say finding a particular one takes more than 30 seconds.
But oh, what do my eyes see… a Organizer Charging Case. Paradise in polyester form! The case can hold up to seven devices plus the power strip and folds to a 12¾” x 8” size for storage or travel. It’s most useful on trips, to help keep hotel rooms organized and to prevent forgotten cords, but can be used effectively at home too. The only issue: you need to have enough room to extend it, because 18”x21” is quite a lot. But if you make a dedicated “charging spot” then this should pose no problem.
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.95 on Solutions.com.
As far as phone accesories go, cases make number 1 on my “most hated” list. I liked to feel the phone keys, not some plastic surface, and I don’t want to extract it every time I want to tinker with the battery or my extra SIM.
A phone case I would consider using is a rare thing indeed. If I had a first generation iPhone or an iPod Touch, the iPhone Battery Case would be on my shopping list. I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t run of out battery at the worst moment; this case comes with a simple solution. Basically, it’s an extra external battery, which can be recharged just like an iPhone (using its cable, too). When the device runs out of juice, the baterry will recharge it, and you can even use the phone during the process, no need to wait. The rest of the time, the battery just sits on the bottom of the case (extra points for it being so small).
Too bad it doesn’t work for the iPhone 3G, but a new version is probably in the works.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $25.19 on Chinavasion.com.
Via Coolest Gadgets
If you’ve got two SIM cards but you don’t want to get a dual-SIM phone, your options are limited: you can try to cram the extra SIM inside the phone (sometimes works) or you can keep it in your pocket/bag and hope it won’t get lost. Hmm. How many of you have managed this?
The Proporta Keyring with SIM Card Holder is something I never knew existed. And it’s smart. It closes securely with a magnet so that SIM card stays put, and since it’s attached to your keys you’d have to be a real airhead to lose it.
The description page also states that it features a “sophisticated anti-loss system”, but since nothing else is mentioned on the subject I’ll just assume they’re talking about the keychain bit. Or maybe it uses some super secret tracking technology that enables it to come back to you. Would sure come in handy for when you lose your key for the umpteenth time…
How much under $29.99?
A lot: ~$8 on Proporta.com.
Via Coolest Gadgets
